Timing device



Jan. 28, 1941. A STANDQW 2,230,148

TIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. '7, 1937 Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3Claims.

My invention relates to the "class of devices which are more especially employed to register periods of time and which are periodically operated for such purposes, and an object of my invention, among others, is the production of a timing device of this sort that shall be simple in construction and particularly emcient for the purpose for which it is designed.

One form of a timing device embodying my invention, and in the construction and use of which ,the objects herein set out, as well as others may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure lis a front view of my improved timing 1; device.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a front view with the face plate removed and with parts broken away to show construction.

Figure 4 is a similar view but showing the parts in full.

Figure 5 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the broken line 6-6 in Figure 3 and with some of the gears and pinions omitted.

25 My improved timing device is not limited in the uses to which it may be put, but as it is particularly applicable for use as a parking meter I have illustrated and described it herein as peculiarly adapted for such use, although it will be 30 seen that various other uses may be found for it.

In the accompanying drawing the numeral 6 denotes a case, which may be round in shape or of any other desired form common to clock structures. A frame such as is commonly employed in 35 clock construction is secured within the case, this frame comprising a front plate I and a back plate I, which plates are connected by posts for supporting one plate by the other. A main arbor 9 is supported at opposite ends by the front and 40 back plates to which it is secured, this arbor proiecting in front of the front plate. as shown in Fig. 3, and having a main spring Ill secured at one end thereto, the opposite end of said spring being secured to an actuating lever ll pivotally 5 supported on the arbor 9. An actuating segments I2 is carried by the lever I I, said segment having teeth in mesh with a pinion 13 secured to a hand arbor ll rotatably mounted in the frame in a manner common to clock construction. The hand 50 arbor has an indicating hand It secured thereto,

said hand being located in front of a dial l6 supported on the frame behind a glass 5 mounted in the face plate I! of the case.

A time train denoted generally by the numeral 55 II and including a gear I! at one end of the train and a pinion 20 at the opposite end of said train, said gear and pinion being connected by intermeshing gears and pinions common to clock construction, is mounted between the front and back plates. The construction and operation of this time train will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and for this reason a more detailed description is omitted herein. The gear I! is rotably mounted on the arbor 9 and is driven by means of a ratchet wheel 2| and a pawl 22, the latter being pivotally mounted on the actuating lever H and the ratchet wheel being secured to the gear l9 to rotate on said arbor. Said pawl is spring pressed into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

' From this description it will be seen that the time train is driven by the main spring l0 and the operation of said train is governed by an escapement mechanism in a manner common to clock construction, said escapement mechanism including a scape wheel 23 secured to the arbor 24 to which the pinion 20 is secured. A pallet 25 is secured to the arbor 26 pivotally supported between the front and back plates of the frame. Operation of said pallet is regulated by a balance wheel 21 in a manner common to a mechanism of this sort, and a regulator 28 is connected with the balance wheel to control its rate of movement.

A cylinder 29 is mounted in the case 6, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, this cylinder having a piston 30 therein connected by a piston rod 3| to the end of the lever II, to which it is pivotally attached. The end 32 of the cylinder 29 has a nipple 31 attached thereto and a tube 34 is secured at one end to said nipple and at its opposite end is connected with the intake manifold of an engine (not shown herein).

when the device is to be used as a parking meter, as hereinbefore intimated, the case 6 may be mounted on the instrument board of an automobile in such position that the face plate and dial may be observed from outside of the vehicle. When the engine is running the suction produced thereby will maintain the piston 30 at the inner end of the cylinder 29, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the timing mechanism will be at rest. When the vehicle is driven, as to a parking place, and the engine is shut off, the suction having been thereby ended the main spring ill will draw the piston toward the open end of the cylinder and the pawl 22 acting on the ratchet wheel 2| will operate the time train in a manner which will be readily understood, thereby moving the hand l5 over the dial IS. The dial is shown as graduated to ten minute intervals, and after the engine has ceased running and the time train begins to operate the hand II will denote the time during which the engine has been still, and hence the time that the automobile has been parked.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation 01 my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it underinder to draw said piston inward in said cylinder, a

piston rod projecting from said piston, a pivotally mounted lever operatively connected with said piston rod, a ratchet wheel operatively connected with said time train, and a pawl carried by said lever in engagement with said ratchet wheel, one end of the main spring for said time train being connected to said lever.

2. An intermittently actuated timing mechanism including a time train comprising an indicating member and including a gear, a cylinder actuated timing mechacontaining a piston, means for creating a partial vacuum in said cylinder to draw said piston inward in said cylinder, a piston rod projecting from said piston, a pivotally mounted lever operatively connected with said piston rod, a non-rotatably mounted arbor. a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said arbor and secured to rotate with said gear comprising a part 01' said timing mechanism, a pawl mounted on said lever in 4 engagement with said ratchet wheel, and a main spring secured at one end to said arbor and at its opposite end to said lever whereby winding of said main spring will take place at each operation of said lever.

3. An intermittently actuated timing mechanism including a time train comprising an indicating member, a cylinder containing a piston, means for producng a partial vacuum in said cylinder to draw said piston inward in the cylinder. a piston rod projecting from said piston, a pivotaily mounted lever pivotally connected with said piston rod and also connected with the time train to operate it, and a connection between said lever and time train, said connection including a pawl on said lever engaged with a ratchet comprising a part of the time train for movement oi said lever in one direction independently of the time train. 7

MARK A. STANDOW. 

